Final answer:
Cleats are open natural fractures in coal beds that allow for the absorption and movement of gas, critical for understanding coal bed behavior and natural gas extraction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Open natural fractures from which gas is absorbed in a coal bed are called cleats. Cleats are crucial in understanding the permeability and behavior of coal beds, especially when it comes to the extraction of natural gas. While cleavage refers to the property of minerals to break along flat surfaces based on planes of weakness in their structure, cleats are specifically associated with coal. Unlike cleavage, cleats do not necessarily represent mineralogical planes of weakness but are rather fractures that facilitate the flow or movement of gases such as methane within coal seams. During the process of fracking, high-pressure fluids are injected underground (Answer D from the given reference) to force out the fossil fuels like gas and oil. Understanding the role of cleats can reveal a lot about the geological history and the best methods for extracting fossil fuels from a coal bed.